Markeshia Ricks Photo
Sean Matteson with Newhallville Alder Delphine Clyburn after she and: Still no sale.
Mayor Toni Harp is ready to make one last effort to keep her chief administrative officer — if she receives assurances that he won’t end up embarrassed.
The chief administrative officer is Sean Matteson. Harp nominated him six months ago for the top post, which oversees front-line departments like police, fire, and public works.
The Board of Alders, which under a new city charter rule must confirm nominees to that position, voted Matteson down. So Matteson put in his resignation last week, effective the end of this month, when a six-month stint ran out as “acting” CAO.
Harp said on her latest appearance on WNHH FM’s “Mayor Monday” program that she’s planning to sound out alders this week about seeking a second vote by the alders, some of whom have had positive things to say about Matteson’s performance since the original no vote. Harp said she’ll move forward unless if she’s confident the vote would turn out “yes” this time.
“We don’t want to … have a vote and have him voted down and embarrass him. He’s the consummate professional.I think he’s done a really good job as the chief administrative officer. What we hope to do is to work with the board to determine if the votes are there. If the votes are there, I will resubmit his name, Harp said.
Alders who voted against Matteson last October offered a range of reactions when asked Monday night whether they’ll reconsider.
Hill Alder Dolores Colon Alder Dolores Colon said she’s “considering supporting him. I’ve been watching him interact with the department heads, more importantly, I’ve not seen him acting politically. That was my biggest concern.”
Board President Tyisha Walker-Myers said the board hasn’t received a resubmission for Matteson but should the board receive such a request it will be vetted. “Everybody deserves a fair process,” she said.
Walker-Myers didn’t say specifically whether she would support Matteson but she intimated that she might review a resubmission with new eyes.
She said the first time Matteson came through the process, alders had concerns about his capacity to do the job based on what they knew of his previous role in the DeStefano administration. But she said since he has stepped into the CAO role he’ has been an effective communicator.
“I take everything at face value,” she said. “I will vet him but it depends on what he says.”
Newhallville Delphine Clyburn remained unmoved. “I’m not in favor of bringing him back,” she said.
Also on “Mayor Monday,” Harp:
• Reaffirmed her position that the police department should continue having four assistant chiefs. She said the system has worked well since the department quadrupled the number of assistants 12 years ago at the recommendation of an outside consultant. The question of the number of assistant chiefs has arisen now that one assistant has put in for retirement, a second has become acting chief, and the remaining two have been looking for new jobs.
• Predicted that no city government workers will lose their jobs once an operational budget is approved for the coming fiscal year, and expressed hope that the Board of Education, which faces a $30 million deficit, can avoid layoffs through teacher attrition.
Click on the video below to watch the full episode of “Mayor Monday” on WNHH FM:
WNHH’s “Mayor Monday” is made possible with the support of Gateway Community College and Berchem Moses P.C.